Composite insulating material.



' 'rnn s'ra ns PATENT GOMPQSETE llNSULATlNG MATERMM...

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. so, ieoe.

Application filed g fi'fi 16, 1905. fierial No. 274,473.

'1'0 all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that l, GEORGE KELLY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hinsdale, in the county of Dupage and State of Illinois,have invented a new and useful Composite Insulating Material, of whichthe following is a specification.

It is a wellknown fact that while mineral wool is an excellentinsulating material it is practically impossible to use it alone, as itwill not form a self-sustaining structure, and, furthermore, in timewill disintegrate and pack down, so that if placed between walls it willleave an open space above it.

In a patent, No. 688,420, granted to me on December 1901, there isdisclosed a selfsustaining board, tile, of producing the same, saidboard, tile, or slab being composed of mineral wool and a binder ofpaper-pulp intermixed therewith. The price of paper-pulp has increasedenormously, adding very materially to the cost of the product.Furthermore, in the method described in the patent it is necessary topulp the paper and sive process, resulting in a board, tile, or slab ofgood insulating properties, but still rather compact and not of as highgrade as desirable.

In another patent, No. 683,208, granted to me on September 24, 1901,there is disclosed a composite insulating material composed of alternatelayers of mineral wool and flax fiber in a loose dry condition, ,coveredwith flexihis material, together with stitches that secure the layersand cover in intimate relation. 'In preparing the flax fiber for thismaterial the straw or tow is cooked in a digester by a suitable chemicalprocess, so that the fiber is degummed. Said fiber is then driedand isafterward passed througha batten' lap machine. The fiber enters themachine in a loose state at one end and goes out at the other formed ina bat or felt. In passing through the machine there is about one-thirdof the valuable fiber wasted, which waste or by-product consists of theshort portions that fall through the screens of the above-named machinewhile the felt is being formed. This by-product, notwithstanding thefact that it i? has been degummed, has heretofore been a complete loss.The peculiarity about it is that it has tentacles or is barb-like inform.

The object of the present invention is to produce a composite insulatingmaterial which is better and lighter and more porous than thecombination of paper and mineral wool or slab and a method.

wool, a comparatively expen-' and ployed.

In carrying out the invention equal parts, i by weight, of the shortdegummed flax fiber and of mineral wool are preferably taken, though theproportions may be varied, as found desirable. These are placed in anyordinary mixersuch, for instance, as a paper-beating engine togetherwith a quantity of water sufficient to carry the mixture around thewheel or paddles. The machine is operated until the ingredients arethoroughly mixed, care being taken to prevent the pulping of thesubstances, an important feature, by raising the knives up from the bed.

The parts being well intermingled, the mixture isthen dumped into atank. From this tank it is put into draining-screens of the properdepthand length,and-it is then rolled slightly, forming a board, tile, slab,or secw tion of the proper depth, length, and width. These articles arethen removed to the dryhouse, and in the drying operation the wool iscaught in and by the claw-like shapes or barbs of the fiber, so that acomposite matewhich material is more spongy than a pulped composition,isconsequently lighter in weight, and of necessity has a large number ofair cells or spaces containing dead air in a honeycomb-like formation.Finally, the structure is very much less-expensive than that in whichthe paper-pulp is emp gummed flax fiber is employed, which hasheretofore been a complete waste, and the expensive process offormingthe wool and paper sides, is not necessary, like shapeof theshort fiber the latter takes hold of the wool and forms aself-sustaining board, slab, tile, or brick capable of being handled.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- I 1. The method of producing aself-sustaining insulating board, tile or slab for cold-storage or otherinsulating purposes, which consists in forming abody ofthoroughly-cOmtningled flaxfiber, mineral wool and liquid, subsequentlyforming tile, slab, or other form, and drying the same. i 2. The-methodof producing an insulating board, tile or slab for cold-storage or otherinsulating purposes, which consists in stirring wherein theabove-described waste is em:

rial is formed of comparatively great strength,

loyed, as the short de- 5 into apulp is obviated. The pulping of flaxfiber would destroy its insulating-qualities and, be-- for owing to theclaw:

said body into a board,

iIO

a wet body of flax fiber and mineral WOOl until the same are thoroughlyc'omrningled, stopping the stirringaetion prior to the pulping of thesame, forming the mixture into a board, tile, slab, or other form, anddrying the same.

3. The method of produoing an insulating board, tile, or slab forcold-storage or other insulating purposes, which consists in comminglingin Water substantially equal quantities of mineral Wool and degummedshort flax fiber, stopping the commingling action prior to the pulpingof the fiber, then forml ing the mixture into a board, tile, slab, orother form, and drying the same.

4. A self-sustaining board, tile, slab, or other form for cold-storageor other insulation, composed of thoroughly-commingled I mineral Wooland flax fiber.

5. A self-sustaining board, tile, slab, or other form for cold-storageor other insulation composed of thoroughly-commingled mineral Wool anddegummed flax fiber.

6. A self-sustaining board, ,tile, slab, or

other form for tion, composed mineral wool and flax fiber extendingthroughout the body of the said board, tile, slab, or other form, saidfiber and Wool being thoroughly commingled with water and dried.

In testimony that 1 claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE KELLY.

cold-storage or other insula- WVitnessesr OTTO C. liRAEMEk JosEPH H..KRAEMER.

of thoroughly oommingled'

